wassaying，willbeforbiddentointer—marry。This，however，isnottobeunderstoodasanabsoluteprohibitionofthemarriageofbrothersandsisters；ifthelotfavoursthem，andtheyreceivethesanctionofthePythianoracle，thelawwillallowthem。
Quiteright，hereplied。
Suchisthescheme，Glaucon，accordingtowhichtheguardiansofourStatearetohavetheirwivesandfamiliesincommon。Andnowyouwouldhavetheargumentshowthatthiscommunityisconsistentwiththerestofourpolity，andalsothatnothingcanbebetter——wouldyounot？
Yes，certainly。
ShallwetrytofindacommonbasisbyaskingofourselveswhatoughttobethechiefaimofthelegislatorinmakinglawsandintheorganizationofaState，——whatisthegreatestIgood，andwhatisthegreatestevil，andthenconsiderwhetherourpreviousdescriptionhasthestampofthegoodoroftheevil？